Incidence and Severity of Solanum lycopersicumBacterial leaf spot Caused by Xanthomonad species in Farms in Wanguru, Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract

Demand for tomato has increased tremendously but its production has been bedeviled by phytopathogens such as bacteria leaf spot. Studies have reported cases of bacteria leaf spot associated with tomato losses in many tomato production regions globally. However, despite persistent of tomato diseases in different agroecological regions in Kenya, there is scanty information on incidences and severity of individual diseases. This study was done to determine the incidence and severity of bacteria leaf spot of tomato in Wanguru in Mwea, Kirinyaga county in Kenya between February and April 2019. A total of ten tomato farms were selected randomly for the surveyed of incidence and severity bacteria leaf spot.From these ten farms, a total of 3000 tomato leaves in 100 tomato plants were assessed. Severity was scored by rating on a scale of 0 – 5. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software version 9.3 and significant means separated using least significance difference (LSD). Results showed that bacterial leaf spot incidence and severity was significant (p<0.05). Bacteria leaf blight was observed in all farms but at lower rates. However, the incidence was below 15% with farm 7 recording mean of 13%. The lowest incidence was observed in farm 3 and 5 recording 8.333%. Severity observed in all the farms was below 35% with farm 7 recording severity mean of 33.333% while farm 5 recorded lowest severity mean of 16.000%. This study therefore reports the incidences and severity of bacteria leaf spot caused by Xanthomonads species complex though at lower rates. The study should be extended to other tomato production areas in Mwea.